Mathematical language can heighten the imagery of a poem; mathematical structure can deepen its effect. Feast here on an international menu of poems made rich by mathematical ingredients . . . . . . . gathered by JoAnne Growney.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

To add two and two

Today I call attention again (as in my post for 6 January, 2015) to the extensive Science-Poetry collection edited by Norman Hugh Redington and Karen Rae Keck. Mathy (rather than bawdy) limericks are featured in the collection; for example, this one by an unknown author: There was an old man who said, "Do Tell me how I'm to add two and two? I'm not very sure That it doesn't make four -- But I fear that is almost too few." Recall that a limerick is five-line stanza in anapestic (da-da-DUM) meter with a rhyme scheme (AABBA) and that it is often obscene and with humorous intent.Several previous postings in this blog have included limericks -- and one way to find them is to click here to open a SEARCH BOX for this blog site. In addition, here are links to other "anonymous" limericks on the Science-Poetry site.

Contact JoAnne Growney: wow(at)joannegrowney(dot)com.

JoAnne Growney is available for presentations -- readings, workshops, interactive lectures -- and collaborations. For information about her collaborative activities (art-poetry, math-poetry, translation), publications, and so on -- visit https://joannegr.dot5hosting.com/.